National Security News

The Daily Signal provides reports on national and homeland security issues, including military readiness, intelligence operations, border protection, and global conflicts. Featuring news, analysis, and commentary, this section explores how security policy decisions affect America’s national defense and freedom.
Filter articles by
    • News

    Conservatives Train Fire on Government ‘Land Grab’ in Key Defense Bill

    Parkland and wilderness provisions added to a defense policy measure have outraged friends of the military, who call the move both a “land grab” and a slap at men and women serving in the armed forces. Considered must-pass legislation, the 2015 National Defense Authorization Act details Republicans’ and Democrats’ military policy priorities. It ranks high on…
    Melissa Quinn
    Read More
    • News

    Watch Homeland Security Chief Struggle to Explain How ‘Amnesty’ for Illegals Is Good for Americans

    Rep. Lou Barletta, R-Pa., asked Homeland Security Secretary Jeh Johnson a seemingly simple question yesterday in a House hearing: How will President Obama’s move to grant “de facto amnesty and work permits” to up to 5 million illegal immigrants affect the 20 million American citizens who are unemployed or underemployed? Johnson, author and champion of…
    Kelsey Bolar
    Read More
    • Opinion

    Political Games Endanger America’s Military

    As members of the House and Senate prepare to vote on the annual National Defense Authorization Act, it appears the bill will be saddled with extraneous non-defense measures.  This threatens the integrity of both defense policy and the NDAA process. This legislative practice–tying together unrelated provisions to secure votes for bad policy–is so frequent that…
    Mike Needham
    Read More
    • Opinion

    HASC Members Discuss Findings of National Defense Panel. Will Congress Listen?

    The House Armed Services Committee held a hearing today on the 2014 National Defense Panel Report,  which was released in July of this year. During the opening remarks, Reps. Buck McKeon, R- Calif., and Adam Smith, D-Wash., lauded the bipartisan nature of the committee. Both believed that the importance of defense policy demanded that members…
    Diem Salmon
    Read More
    • Opinion

    This Chart Shows Why Social Security Will Be Broke in 10 Years

    Social Security’s trustees projected in 1983 that the recently enacted Social Security reforms would keep the program active for at least the next 75 years, through 2058. However, according to research by Rachel Greszler, a senior policy analyst at The Heritage Foundation, that approach date has accelerated. "If the trend since 1983 continues, the program…
    Kelsey Lucas
    Read More
    • News

    Americans Should Fear Terrorists Crossing ‘Defenseless’ Border, Warns Tom Cotton

    Arkansas Sen.-elect Tom Cotton shot back at NBC’s “Meet the Press” host Chuck Todd when asked whether his campaign rhetoric about the threat of terrorism on the U.S. southern border was “fear mongering.” In defending his stance, Cotton said, “As long as our border is open and it’s defenseless, then it’s not just an immigration issue. It’s…
    Kelsey Bolar
    Read More
    • Opinion

    Cybersecurity: Time for the U.S. to Stop Negotiating with China and Start Acting

    It comes as no surprise that the U.S.–China cybersecurity talks at the Asia–Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) largely failed. While Obama was in China The Washington Post reported that the Chinese were the prime suspects in hacks against both the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) and the U.S. Postal Service (USPS). The USPS announced that…
    David Inserra
    Read More
    • News

    No Cover-Up, Intelligence Failure or Military Inaction in Benghazi Attacks, House Panel Finds

    Intelligence and military officials responded appropriately during the terrorist attacks on the U.S. diplomatic compound in Benghazi, Libya, a House committee concluded in a report released Friday evening. The report by the House Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence also found no cover-ups and no deliberate misconduct by Obama administration officials following the Sept. 11, 2012, attacks….
    Josh Siegel
    Read More
    • Opinion

    The Pentagon Spent $46 Billion to Develop Weapon Systems It Never Bought. It’s Time to Cut Waste.

    When it comes to how the Pentagon buys new stuff, everyone’s a critic. The zeal for reform rivals that of Carrie Nation when she first took up her hatchet. Yet, despite numerous initiatives—complete with promises, new laws and regulations—the complaints continue to pile up. Perhaps it is time for a different take on acquisition reform….
    James Carafano
    Read More
    • News

    Tom Steyer, Largest 2014 Donor, Says Americans Worry Big Political Donors Get ‘Special Privileges’

    San Francisco billionaire Tom Steyer, the largest donor in the 2014 election cycle, says the way to win the debate on the environmental issues he cares about is to emphasize how money in elections and industry lobbyists are hindering a healthier environment. People may not inherently care about big-picture ideas, he said at a panel…
    Josh Kaib
    Read More
    • Opinion

    SM-3s and SM-2s Highlight U.S. Missile Defense Needs

    The U.S. Navy and the Missile Defense Agency completed a successful test of the Standard Missile-3 (SM-3) and Standard Missile-2 (SM-2) interceptors this past week, marking the 10th anniversary of the Aegis missile defense system becoming operational. During this simulated attack, the SM-3 Block IB destroyed a short-range ballistic missile and the two SM-2 Block…
    Michaela Dodge
    Read More
    • Opinion

    Hagel Doesn’t Get It: Planning to Have a Plan to Ensure Military Readiness Doesn’t Cut It

    At the annual Defense Forum at the Reagan Presidential Library, Defense Secretary Chuck Hagel delivered a much-publicized speech last Saturday about how to make sure our military is ready to defend the nation’s vital interest in these difficult days. But Hagel didn’t describe a plan to deliver “game-changing” technology; he gave a speech about planning…
    James Carafano
    Read More
    • News

    Which City Has the Freest Transportation Market? This Map Ranks the Best and Worst

    Is your city transportation-friendly? A new interactive scorecard, created by the R Street Institute, grades 50 cities on their regulatory openness toward car services. The report seeks to identify whether cities encourage competition in the transportation market. Andrew Moylan, senior fellow at the R Street Institute, said the scorecard provides a snapshot of the current regulatory…
    Alex Anderson
    Read More
    • Opinion

    What We Need to Do to Make Sure We Don’t Have to Bailout Financial Firms Ever Again

    The Republicans will hold a comfortable majority in the U.S. House and, at most, a 55 seat majority in the Senate for the 114th Congress. That’s not a wide enough margin to override a Presidential veto. Still, the Republicans owe it to their constituents to exercise governance. On election night Sen. Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.) indicated…
    Norbert Michel
    Read More
    • News

    Implementing This Reform Could Help Ax Waste at the Pentagon

    Making defense operations more efficient is a natural common cause for Congress and the Pentagon. Increased efficiency would save money—freeing up dollars that the Pentagon could plow back into rebuilding the capacity and capabilities needed to defend the country. Sadly, talk about how to do this always starts in the wrong place. Some want to…
    James Carafano
    Read More
    • Opinion

    How the GI Bill Launched a Social Revolution

    It’s always heartening when Veterans Day rolls around each November to see our nation pay tribute to those who have served so nobly in our armed forces. We often do it in small ways. My wife and I recently noticed, for example, that a local supermarket had set aside a pair of parking spaces marked…
    Ed Feulner
    Read More
    • News

    Tax Incentives for Certain Va. Businesses Driving State into Debt

    RICHMOND, Va. — Tax incentives for selected businesses are driving Virginia deeper into debt, and House Speaker Bill Howell says he’s committed to curbing the special breaks. “Virginia needs a tax code that encourages growth, and that means making it simpler and more transparent,” Howell, R-Falmouth, said recently. “We can eliminate those incentives and lower the…
    Kenric Ward
    Read More
    • Opinion

    13 Things You Should Know About the Vietnam Veterans Memorial on Its Anniversary

    Thirty-two years ago today, after a week of honoring American veterans, the Vietnam Veterans Memorial was dedicated in Washington, D.C. With more than 4 million visitors each year, the Vietnam Memorial is a beautiful tribute to the heroes of the Vietnam War. On the anniversary of the memorial's dedication, check out our collection of photos…
    Kelsey Lucas
    Read More
    • Opinion

    Lame-Duck Congress Must Renew Its Commitment to Missile Defense

    As Republicans enjoyed remarkable gains on Election Day, capturing control of the Senate and tightening their grip on the House, a palpable shift in the prevailing power structure overcame Washington. Although the Republican Party won’t actually take control of the Senate until January, a number of important issues will demand more immediate consideration. Among the…
    Scott Erickson
    Read More
    • News

    This Film Has the Military Hooked, but Not Hollywood

    For soldiers returning from faraway battlefields, coming home isn’t always easy. The acclaimed film “Fort Bliss” seeks to bring those struggles to the big screen, garnering praise from viewers and the Pentagon but a lackluster response from Hollywood. The film, which opened to limited release in April, won the support of critics, viewers—including Secretary of Defense…
    Melissa Quinn
    Read More